That ASBA, with funding from the Alberta government, consider developing a companion policy advisory regarding asthma. Expert medical opinion has drawn a close link between asthma and students at risk of life-threatening allergies; and
That ASBA encourage Alberta Education to request Alberta’s Health Regions to work closely with school boards in their region to provide information, awareness and training regarding individuals with life-threatening allergies. CARRIED

[/quote]

In the interest of space I didn't quote the whole thing, but I really like what I see here. I know that the resource package was developed and sent to all schools. It contained the "Anaphylaxis in School Settings" consensus document, trainers for both the Epipen and Twin-Ject, brochures on each of the priority allergens, etc. I found it in our school. As a trainer with the AAIA, I offerred to use it at a staff meeting, but like I mentioned before, they never had the time.

Do you know what came of this? I guess they expected the schools to pick these kits up and use them appropriately, but if my school is any example, they're collecting dust on school shelves. In fact, our principal admits that she can find ours - but in her defense, the school is being renovated and they're living out of portables, so everything has been put in storage.

Someone at this association needs to do some FOLLOW-UP!!! Did you ever see the results of the Edmonton teachers' study? Terrifying results! I can find it in the notes I took at the conference (the Edmonton one in April 2009).

Here are those stats from the AllerGen study of 191 random staff in Edmonton schools.

- conducted in 2008, staff were very receptive after receiving training
- only 48% injected the proper end of the Epipen trainer
- only 48% injected in the right area
- only 67% actually actuated the device
only 50% held it for 10 seconds

271 staff asked...
- less than 1/2 knew whether or not a student carried an auto-injector, whether there was a school policy & whether a form was filled out
- almost 40% were not sure if they were "allowed" to administer an Epi-pen (it was mentioned that this was likely due to First Aid training, where they are told to never administer medication as well as the ATA union rules)
- confidence in recognizing & treating an allergy was "somewhat"
- more than 60% believe that more safeguards are needed

These are just copies of my notes ... I would love to see AllerGen publish this somewhere!

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum